The last week of August 2005, a natural disaster struck the southern United States and impacted millions of lives. Hurricane Katrina caused grief, tragedy, and despair. But for me, it was a blessing in disguise. One of the 400,000 displaced citizens of New Orleans was 15-year-old Chelsea. Fearing the storm and the damage it would cause, Chelsea fled her home in search of refuge. Almost 700 miles later, in St. Louis, Missouri, she stopped. She moved in with a host family, and enrolled in a local high school. And there, she met me.
Chelsea and I shared only one class, but during that class we bonded. We began hanging out outside of school: we shopped, went to concerts, and explored festivals. Chelsea told me about the home she so dearly missed: the city and its rich culture, her family and their traditions, her friends and what they did for fun. I dreamed of traveling to this amazing place, and when Chelsea left St. Louis and returned to New Orleans for good, I was jealous. Chelsea and I continued to e-mail, talk on the phone, and write letters.
My fears of losing touch vanished, and when she invited me to come to New Orleans for a week during the summer, I jumped at the chance. The summer of 2006, nearly a year after the storm, I prepared to take my first solo plane ride. I was nervous, but the promise of seeing my best friend for the first time in months soothed my fears.
After an interminable flight over Lake Ponchartrain, the plane landed. I gathered my things from the overhead compartment, and rushed out of the plane. The airport was empty; the eerie silence reminded me of the reports I’d seen on the news of the airport being used as a mausoleum following the storm.
As I hurried to baggage claim, I realized for the first time I was entering a city that had suffered an immense tragedy. With great relief, I embraced Chelsea as we waited for my luggage. The air was hot and muggy, and Chelsea’s mom, Miss Judy, gave me a reassuring hug and loaded my bags into the trunk.
Chelsea booked a surprise cooking class for us, and as we discussed the coming week, I was filled with excitement. We arrived at the cooking class at a local mall. I was apprehensive at first; I’d never eaten Cajun or Creole, and spicy was my worst enemy. With each shake of the “Slap Ya Mama” spice shaker, I grew more nervous. What would I eat for the week? The cooking instructors added dish after dish to our plates, and I apprehensively took my first bite. The food was amazing!
When the class ended, we climbed back into Miss Judy’s car. Excited to see Chelsea again, I paid little attention as the view outside the car changed. When Ms. Judy began talking about the damage, I almost didn’t know what she was referring to. Now, as I looked out the window, the area surrounding us was heartbreaking. Homes were ruined and trash was everywhere. Big spray-painted Xs covered the fronts of the houses, the recovery teams’ signatures. I again remembered the images I’d seen on the news of families leaving their homes and belongings behind. Many would never return. I continued to see disturbing images like these throughout the week.
Though she’d been seeing these images daily for over six months, I witnessed Chelsea’s continued pain. While much of the city feigned normalcy, many parts had not. Often I found myself turning my head to look away. Luckily, Chelsea and I did experience a lot more than the sad effects of the hurricane. I submerged myself into a culture completely unlike my own. The brass instruments of street musicians played lively jazz tunes. Po’ boys, red beans and rice, gumbo, and beignets were staples at every meal. Thick southern accents and New Orleans pride created an atmosphere like no other city.
Leaving New Orleans was hard. I hugged my best friend and held back the tears, knowing that it would not be my last visit with Chelsea. I boarded the plane and headed home; glad to be back where I could pronounce everything on the menu. I missed Chelsea, and still do. My best friend by my side, exploring a city like no other, my first trip to New Orleans was one I’ll never forget.
Adriana Hart-Schmidt of Webster Groves, Missouri won Honorable Mention for this essay.
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P.E. Island was amazing! If you ever have the chance to go there take it! It was so beautiful and all of the places in the books were fun to visit.
your picture of the horses on the beach remind me of Sweden. Thanks for bringing back the memories
You wrote a really good article on such an interesting & sad topic!
I’ve always wanted to go to P.E. Island! I loved those books. Luuuucky
nicely written 🙂
This is a wonderful story, you will be a great doctor.
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Hello, Ralph. An email voice from the past. Would like to catch up some time. I left Amtrak in '95 and have been living in the Boston area since '97. Have wonderful wife and 3 daughters (the oldest a senior at Barnard). Hope you and Fran are well. Send me a note some time.
Peter
Its really informative. Thank you Goldenberg.In Australia I like Sydney more because of its added attractions. Thank you .
Its really informative. Thank you Arrien .In Australia I like Sydney more because of its added attractions.
thanks for the information. I can use this for my child, since i do not like ANY thing that moves!!!
http://www.orlando4holidays.com
Parents and guardians with questions about transporting minors between countries other than the U.S. should ask the Visa Division of each country's Embassy for exact regulations. Canada, for example, can be very strict about granting children visas and may require a health exam.
The paperwork for vacations and short stay visits can be found at this link:
http://www.familytravelforum.com/how/advice/10545-Required-Documents-For-Travel-With-Minors.html?p=4
Would appreciate a copy of the sample formpermission letter for minor traveling with other than parent situation.
Yoga today is very important in people’s life. Yoga is gaining more and more importance as there is a lot of stress at workplaces. Yoga is the best and easy way to reduce the stress. And I have some good yoga tips at http://www.jiyohealthy.com/category/stress/
Playground Safety Common-sense rules. We are getting parents and professionals to pool together to create a kid-friendly understanding of how to have fun safely on any playground.
Uncle Shuck's Corn Maze is so much fun, and clean for an outdoor facility. Pumpkins arriving in one week!
hi looking for a quote for a pick up from newark airport on the 22/10/09 for four people to east 88st
i had a report to do on martinique, and before my teacher told me what i had to write about, i had know clue about martinique. now i want to go there. this site helped me do my project,and hopfully i will get an A
Looking for what ever we need for my Fiance to bring his daughter from Jamaica to Canada. He is a single parent and has primary custody, but I'm sure travelling internationally, that he will need a letter from her birth mother.
Thanks
Pattii
The mother of my daughter left her with out my consent to D.r and left her there with her mother returning to the United State abondoning my child for 5 years and just to go visit her every year a 1 year old little girl ..Wjat u think is dat
love the pix, you really capture what’s so beautiful about all these places. thanks for bringing those thoughts to my screen.
I had the best family reunion ever with primo events beach homes in virginia Beach. They gave me a beautifyl resort house and provided family games which made it fun for everybody.
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New Jersey
Eva, the document is available on page 4 of this story. Thanks!
Please send me Permission to Travel Form
THanks for this resource!
Hello,
I would like to introduce a famous restaurant in Budapest, Liszt Ferenc square 9. Café Miró Grande restaurant is located in the heart of Budapest.
I think Café Miró Grande's chef prepared the best Hungarian dishes in Budapest, for example Goulas soup, 'Lecsó', etc.
Don't miss it, when you visit the beautiful city of Budapest.
Another attraction of note is taking a canopy tour. When we filmed the pilot episode for our TV series "Paradise Hunter" we filmed with The Original Canopy Tour. They were excellent and provided some great knowledge of the bio-diversity in the cloud forest.
I would like to obtain a sample form or letter to authorize my mother in-law (my daughters grand mother) to travel to orlando florida where they will be meeting up with the other parent & then in a few days travel on a domestic flight to miami
please email me. Need a sample Permission to Travel letter for International Travel with one parent.
read the instructions first
We've book a number of trips to Phuket for beginners and more advanced divers. The've all had a great time. Although is a bit further than the Caribbean. If you stay longer it's worth the flight time.
I need sinple form traveling with my step daughter, her mother is deceased. Her Father will not be traveling with us to the Bahamas
Hi to parents and grandparents traveling with minors, in need of this Permission Letter.
You can get a free sample of this blank form by filling out the email request at the end of this story. We ask everyone to sign up this way so that we can send you email updates as these regulations change, which is often!
Please read the story through to the end so that you understand the issue in full. Thanks for your interest in family travel!
FTF Editors
please send me the Permission to Travel letter for International Travel with one parent form.
This resort is totally top notch. It's great there. And Amelia Island is one beautiful relaxing place. Love Fernandina Beach and also visiting Fort Clinch. All the best.
My granddaughter a minor,is travelling out of the country with me for two weeks, and I need a permission form for her parents to sign, in case of emergency, so that I can make medical decisions for her. Thank you.
This is really interesting take on the concept. I never thought of it that way.
Thanks for the comment, Paola! Fun story and glad you took the time to write.
Here's to roses and wine!
Can you please send me a standard document for a minor travelling with one parent.
Thanks
Javier,
You can request a sample Permission to Travel letter by using the form at the end of this story. For information on a temporary resident visa, please check with the Canadian High Commission at this webpage: http://www.visabureau.com/canada/canadian-high-commission.aspx
good luck!
Hello there i am looking for a letter sample of the one paren tarvel with child,the one Canadian Embassy requiring to extend temporary resident visa. Thanks for your kindly help.
What a great story, you were so lucky to be home at that time of year and your pictures are beautiful… Wish I could see it too.
This is soooooo right for all of us, not only Americans.
Anyway,about the roses, he is right especially about the odd number….
I liked hearing about Verona, I never knew there really was a balcony there and that any of that R&J story was true!
The legend of H? Long has it that, “Once upon a time, soon after the Vi?t people established their country, invaders came. The Jade Emperor sent Mother Dragon and her Child Dragons down to earth to help the Vi?t people fight against their enemy. Right at the time invaders’ boats were rushing to the shore, the dragons landed down on earth. The dragons immediately sent out from their mouths a lot of pearls, which then turned into thousands of stone islands emerging in the sea like great walls challenging the invaders’ boats. The fast boats couldn’t manage to stop and crashed into the islands and into each other and broke into pieces.
Diane:
Please go to the last page of this story and fill out a request form. Then the documents will be e-mailed to you.
Jillian
Need a sample Permission to Travel letter for International Travel with one parent.